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Deadspin | Alexander Steen taking reins as Blues GM on July 1  Jan 16, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) lines up prior to a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images   Alexander Steen will take the baton from Doug Armstrong and officially become the St. Louis Blues’ general manager on July 1, the team confirmed Friday.  Armstrong then will serve as the team’s president of hockey operations through 2029, following a transition plan originally announced in June 2024.  “I think Alex is hungry. He’s ready,” Armstrong said. “A new leadership voice at that level is going to be great for the franchise.”  Armstrong, 61, has been with the organization since 2008 and served as the GM since 2010. He was named the NHL general manager of the year in 2012, guided the Blues to the postseason on 11 occasions and led St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup title in 2019.  Steen, 42, was a member of the Blues’ Cup-winning team. The forward retired in 2020 after recording 622 points (245 goals, 377 assists) in 1,018 career games with the Maple Leafs and Blues after being selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 NHL Draft.   Steen joined the front office in 2023 and was promoted to special assistant to the general manager in 2024.  Armstrong said Steen has been working as the de facto GM since the second half of the 2025-26 season. The Blues finished fifth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.  “What I told the players right after the trade deadline is, for all intents and purposes that Alex is the GM as far as you’re concerned now. There are no more trades, there are no more waivers (this season),” Armstrong said. “Now Alex has to put his stamp on the team in exit meetings and (set) his expectations.”  In addition to helping to prepare for the June 26-27 draft, looming decisions for Steen include contracts for restricted free agents Dylan Holloway, Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel, and unrestricted free agents Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Alexander #Steen #reins #Blues #July

Deadspin | Alexander Steen taking reins as Blues GM on July 1
Deadspin | Alexander Steen taking reins as Blues GM on July 1  Jan 16, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) lines up prior to a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images   Alexander Steen will take the baton from Doug Armstrong and officially become the St. Louis Blues’ general manager on July 1, the team confirmed Friday.  Armstrong then will serve as the team’s president of hockey operations through 2029, following a transition plan originally announced in June 2024.  “I think Alex is hungry. He’s ready,” Armstrong said. “A new leadership voice at that level is going to be great for the franchise.”  Armstrong, 61, has been with the organization since 2008 and served as the GM since 2010. He was named the NHL general manager of the year in 2012, guided the Blues to the postseason on 11 occasions and led St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup title in 2019.  Steen, 42, was a member of the Blues’ Cup-winning team. The forward retired in 2020 after recording 622 points (245 goals, 377 assists) in 1,018 career games with the Maple Leafs and Blues after being selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 NHL Draft.   Steen joined the front office in 2023 and was promoted to special assistant to the general manager in 2024.  Armstrong said Steen has been working as the de facto GM since the second half of the 2025-26 season. The Blues finished fifth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.  “What I told the players right after the trade deadline is, for all intents and purposes that Alex is the GM as far as you’re concerned now. There are no more trades, there are no more waivers (this season),” Armstrong said. “Now Alex has to put his stamp on the team in exit meetings and (set) his expectations.”  In addition to helping to prepare for the June 26-27 draft, looming decisions for Steen include contracts for restricted free agents Dylan Holloway, Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel, and unrestricted free agents Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Alexander #Steen #reins #Blues #JulyJan 16, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) lines up prior to a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images

Alexander Steen will take the baton from Doug Armstrong and officially become the St. Louis Blues’ general manager on July 1, the team confirmed Friday.

Armstrong then will serve as the team’s president of hockey operations through 2029, following a transition plan originally announced in June 2024.

“I think Alex is hungry. He’s ready,” Armstrong said. “A new leadership voice at that level is going to be great for the franchise.”

Armstrong, 61, has been with the organization since 2008 and served as the GM since 2010. He was named the NHL general manager of the year in 2012, guided the Blues to the postseason on 11 occasions and led St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup title in 2019.


Steen, 42, was a member of the Blues’ Cup-winning team. The forward retired in 2020 after recording 622 points (245 goals, 377 assists) in 1,018 career games with the Maple Leafs and Blues after being selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 NHL Draft.

Steen joined the front office in 2023 and was promoted to special assistant to the general manager in 2024.

Armstrong said Steen has been working as the de facto GM since the second half of the 2025-26 season. The Blues finished fifth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.

“What I told the players right after the trade deadline is, for all intents and purposes that Alex is the GM as far as you’re concerned now. There are no more trades, there are no more waivers (this season),” Armstrong said. “Now Alex has to put his stamp on the team in exit meetings and (set) his expectations.”

In addition to helping to prepare for the June 26-27 draft, looming decisions for Steen include contracts for restricted free agents Dylan Holloway, Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel, and unrestricted free agents Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Alexander #Steen #reins #Blues #July

Jan 16, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) lines up prior to a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images

Alexander Steen will take the baton from Doug Armstrong and officially become the St. Louis Blues’ general manager on July 1, the team confirmed Friday.

Armstrong then will serve as the team’s president of hockey operations through 2029, following a transition plan originally announced in June 2024.

“I think Alex is hungry. He’s ready,” Armstrong said. “A new leadership voice at that level is going to be great for the franchise.”

Armstrong, 61, has been with the organization since 2008 and served as the GM since 2010. He was named the NHL general manager of the year in 2012, guided the Blues to the postseason on 11 occasions and led St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup title in 2019.

Steen, 42, was a member of the Blues’ Cup-winning team. The forward retired in 2020 after recording 622 points (245 goals, 377 assists) in 1,018 career games with the Maple Leafs and Blues after being selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 NHL Draft.

Steen joined the front office in 2023 and was promoted to special assistant to the general manager in 2024.

Armstrong said Steen has been working as the de facto GM since the second half of the 2025-26 season. The Blues finished fifth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.

“What I told the players right after the trade deadline is, for all intents and purposes that Alex is the GM as far as you’re concerned now. There are no more trades, there are no more waivers (this season),” Armstrong said. “Now Alex has to put his stamp on the team in exit meetings and (set) his expectations.”

In addition to helping to prepare for the June 26-27 draft, looming decisions for Steen include contracts for restricted free agents Dylan Holloway, Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel, and unrestricted free agents Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl.

–Field Level Media

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India spots restricted to Asian Champions League 2, despite increase in berths in ACL Elite <div id="content-body-70902893" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Indian Super League clubs will continue to play in the Asian Champions League 2 next season, despite Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announcing increased berths for the Champions League Elite for other countries.</p><p>This season’s ISL winner will get a direct group stage spot in ACL 2, while the Super Cup winner, FC Goa, will earn a playoff spot.</p><p>In the Elite competition, clubs from Saudi Arabia and Japan are due to see their slots increased to five in the competition’s expanded league phase.</p><p>The AFC announced that its Professional Football Committee had adopted changes to the competition that will see the 2026/27 ‌edition of the club championship feature 32 teams, up from 24 at present, when it kicks ‌off in September.</p><p>Japan currently has three automatic berths ‌in ⁠the league phase while Saudi Arabia has ⁠two plus a playoff place.</p><p>Organisers have increased Saudi Arabia’s quota of guaranteed berths to three – in line with the Japanese – while granting the ​two countries an additional ‌two playoff slots.</p><p>Japanese and Saudi Arabian clubs have dominated the competition since the adoption of the new format in 2024 with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli due ‌to meet J-League outfit Machida Zelvia in the ​latest final on Saturday.</p><p>The expansion will see the league phase in both west and east ⁠Asia grow from 12 to 16 teams on each side of the confederation with the first eight finishers progressing ‌to the knockout rounds next season.</p><p>The United Arab Emirates has also seen its allowance increase to three automatic slots with one playoff place available while Qatar has been granted three confirmed berths.</p><p>South Korea has been given one additional playoff spot to its existing three confirmed places ‌while Thailand has seen its quota increase from one to three ​guaranteed league phase slots.</p><p>China retains its two automatic spots but loses a playoff place after ⁠all three of its participants failed to advance to the ⁠knockout rounds of the current edition.</p><p>Australia has had a playoff slot added to its one confirmed ‌place in the league phase while Jordan and Vietnam have both been given playoff places.</p><p>The decisions are subject ​to ratification by the AFC’s executive committee.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 24, 2026</p></div> #India #spots #restricted #Asian #Champions #League #increase #berths #ACL #Elite

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Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through <div id="content-body-70902782" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.</p><p>The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.</p><p>Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.</p><p>The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.</p><p>However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.</p><p>“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.</p><p>“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”</p><p>With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.</p><p>Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.</p><p>American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.</p><p>Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].</p><p>Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/wsqh25/article70902824.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-24T140355Z_1777741233_UP1EM4O132H4S_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/wsqh25/article70902824.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-24T140355Z_1777741233_UP1EM4O132H4S_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG" alt="Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania's Elena Gabriela" title="Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania's Elena Gabriela" class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p></div><p>Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.</p><p>After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.</p><p>Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.</p><p>“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.</p><p>“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”</p><p>Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.</p><p>Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 24, 2026</p></div> #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes

Deadspin | Astros reinstate 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from IL  Jun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   The Houston Astros have reinstated All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list and he is slated to bat fifth as the club opens a three-game home series vs. the Athletics on Friday.  In a corresponding move, Houston optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land.  Altuve was placed on the IL on May 17 after taking an unorthodox swing the previous night against the Texas Rangers.  Altuve, 36, was hitting .245 with four home runs and 12 RBIs through 42 games.   The Astros are 9-8 in the 17 games that Altuve has missed.  The nine-time All-Star is hitting well below his career average of .302. Earlier this year, he played in his 2,000th game with the Astros and is currently 72 hits shy of 2,500 in his 16-year career.  Dezenzo, 26, was hitting .191 with one home run and two RBIs in 21 games in his third season with the Astros.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Astros #reinstate #Jose #Altuve #left #oblique #strainJun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The Houston Astros have reinstated All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list and he is slated to bat fifth as the club opens a three-game home series vs. the Athletics on Friday.

In a corresponding move, Houston optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Altuve was placed on the IL on May 17 after taking an unorthodox swing the previous night against the Texas Rangers.


Altuve, 36, was hitting .245 with four home runs and 12 RBIs through 42 games.

The Astros are 9-8 in the 17 games that Altuve has missed.

The nine-time All-Star is hitting well below his career average of .302. Earlier this year, he played in his 2,000th game with the Astros and is currently 72 hits shy of 2,500 in his 16-year career.

Dezenzo, 26, was hitting .191 with one home run and two RBIs in 21 games in his third season with the Astros.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Astros #reinstate #Jose #Altuve #left #oblique #strain">Deadspin | Astros reinstate 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from IL  Jun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   The Houston Astros have reinstated All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list and he is slated to bat fifth as the club opens a three-game home series vs. the Athletics on Friday.  In a corresponding move, Houston optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land.  Altuve was placed on the IL on May 17 after taking an unorthodox swing the previous night against the Texas Rangers.  Altuve, 36, was hitting .245 with four home runs and 12 RBIs through 42 games.   The Astros are 9-8 in the 17 games that Altuve has missed.  The nine-time All-Star is hitting well below his career average of .302. Earlier this year, he played in his 2,000th game with the Astros and is currently 72 hits shy of 2,500 in his 16-year career.  Dezenzo, 26, was hitting .191 with one home run and two RBIs in 21 games in his third season with the Astros.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Astros #reinstate #Jose #Altuve #left #oblique #strain

North Carolina could not have asked for a better start to Game 1 of its Super Regional series against visiting Southern California. The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, and while Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Mason Edwards escaped that jam, he got into trouble again in the second, giving up a pair of runs. By the time the fourth inning arrived, UNC held a 4-1 lead, and Edwards — the leading strikeout artist in college baseball this season — had already been pulled.

But, as the saying goes, that is why they play nine innings.

The Trojans stormed back, thanks to a five-run sixth inning, to take Game 1 in Chapel Hill by a final score of 9-5 and move to within one win of a trip to Omaha for the Men’s College World Series.

USC trailed 6-1 in the top of the sixth, and was struggling to get anything going against UNC starting pitcher Ryan Lynch. But that is when the Trojans’ bats came alive. This single from Kevin Takeuchi brought home a run, closing UNC’s lead to 5-2 with nobody out in the sixth:

Lynch got the next two outs, but UNC called on reliever Walker McDuffie. He walked Andrew Lamb, who had hit a solo shot earlier in the game, to load the bases. That set the stage for Dean Carpentier to give USC their first lead of the afternoon:

The blast staked USC to a 6-5 lead, and the Trojans would not look back. USC added three more runs in the seventh, using a little safety squeeze to plate the third run of the inning:

But full credit should go to the USC bullpen. After Edwards exited the game, relievers Chase Herrell, Ben Cushnie, and Andrew Johnson combined for six innings of work, allowing just one earned run over that stretch. Herrell was credited with the win, going two innings while giving up just one run, while Johnson earned a save by pitching the final 3.2 innings and allowing just two hits, while striking out two.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow, with USC booking a spot in the Men’s College World Series with a victory. A UNC win would force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.

#USC #storms #UNC #Game #Super #Regional">USC storms back against UNC to take Game 1 of their Super Regional  North Carolina could not have asked for a better start to Game 1 of its Super Regional series against visiting Southern California. The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, and while Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Mason Edwards escaped that jam, he got into trouble again in the second, giving up a pair of runs. By the time the fourth inning arrived, UNC held a 4-1 lead, and Edwards — the leading strikeout artist in college baseball this season — had already been pulled.But, as the saying goes, that is why they play nine innings.The Trojans stormed back, thanks to a five-run sixth inning, to take Game 1 in Chapel Hill by a final score of 9-5 and move to within one win of a trip to Omaha for the Men’s College World Series.USC trailed 6-1 in the top of the sixth, and was struggling to get anything going against UNC starting pitcher Ryan Lynch. But that is when the Trojans’ bats came alive. This single from Kevin Takeuchi brought home a run, closing UNC’s lead to 5-2 with nobody out in the sixth:Lynch got the next two outs, but UNC called on reliever Walker McDuffie. He walked Andrew Lamb, who had hit a solo shot earlier in the game, to load the bases. That set the stage for Dean Carpentier to give USC their first lead of the afternoon:The blast staked USC to a 6-5 lead, and the Trojans would not look back. USC added three more runs in the seventh, using a little safety squeeze to plate the third run of the inning:But full credit should go to the USC bullpen. After Edwards exited the game, relievers Chase Herrell, Ben Cushnie, and Andrew Johnson combined for six innings of work, allowing just one earned run over that stretch. Herrell was credited with the win, going two innings while giving up just one run, while Johnson earned a save by pitching the final 3.2 innings and allowing just two hits, while striking out two.These two teams will meet again tomorrow, with USC booking a spot in the Men’s College World Series with a victory. A UNC win would force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.  #USC #storms #UNC #Game #Super #Regional

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